The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-02-11
cOrRTSHIPS OF BIRDS.
,oulsr HOLDERS VERY INTER-
N, ling COLLECTION OF FACTS.

,,, ,audnm Cranes bird cir'ns-fr0li''
rcathcred Dancers-rho H"mm'ng
,,nht for a wifc-othcr Curious
Courtships'
~ Tho African tribes when mar
In .,,,sod bv the dusky lover the coy
us-. .,. him through a course OF physical
m'.'.' nst &, considered test Of his capa-
.p. ',', o., the protector and supporter Of
o". he appears before her and her
lam and goes through a series of ground
I...'.., t,mbling that would do credit to
aI' .,ral athlcte-leaps into the air,
.,.r- 90 show his wal6ing powers, and
l.. limbs this way and that 20 show
r..ment of muscles; finally, If he
'-. .-.,f exhibition, ne Is accepted, and
n'1' Inward the woman does all the hard
en-, .. Groom having demonstrated, how
Olaf lo can 30 IL If pushed TO the wall
tao cranes, especially the sandhnl
..r..,t exactly the same thing can DO
o" mating season, and If any one can
s'' AoGo.k 40 this time they viii be re-
"it. .,,.,t remarkable Sight-a verltable
l1' -s a relative of mine had large
'"' ..,.r hi, estate. and here the great
..ia their summer home, building
.....i, nests there and rearing their
'- Tin. marsh was surrounded 10y high
l's rl +. was his practice 10 creep through
.,.s tbe birds unobscrved The antics
orr ...... through 10 would be impossible TO
<-.~.f.-naw they would caper along in
..-. stepping dainty with the winning gait
irl. ilaal exquisite, lifting their feathers or
Zoo. taking short steps and gradually work
.s,.m..ly,s up 20 a bird frenzy Of excite
, ,,beu they would leap into the air and
--.- each others backs, taking short runs,
~, ,s,. and that. all for the edilication of
.Eo female, standing by, and finally, after
.-....of these exhibition, the different birds
selected their mates.
rR0LC OF FEATHERED DANCERS.
,,,or., the birds of the western hemisphere
.t.oo., NJ the rock ranks next 20 the crane
ID, tbs ,trangeuess of its evolutions. The bird
confined % South America and is about the
..,a NJ d small pigeon; has bright orange
,rsb IN the male, with plumelike arrange
mont ON the head 1t is proud bird, prin-
.i,sfv hnuIing lis nest in rocky places not
f-a5Yentai by man. At the commencement
off.e breeding season party of birds num-
herring from ten % twenty, assemble, and
s.a.tm.a clear space among the rocks form
81 RIM, 0r circle. facing inward. Now small
t.ri take, IFS place in the center and begins TO
f0Dab.ut. toss lbs head, lift its wings and 20
through al the strange movements possible
that appear % Doe watched with great interest
tr there-t. When the performer is thor
or-l'y exhausted he retireS 10 the circle and
another bird enters the ring, and so on, until
ali have put through their PAGES, when the
ra.r, probably make their selection. Often
tha birds are SO exhausted after the dances
that they can hardly fly, lyingpanting on the
rocks
m England the courtship of the great Eng
I,a m,tarl is q rare sight, the magnificent
creature performing most of its love antics in
tsar. making great swoopS downward, al
mos. touching the ground, then rising aloft
90 hover over It's mate, uttering a peculiar
crr then aIi-htug and wing with the turkey
ID il, proud aspect. The great Otis Ben
c-n,., strut, about like a peacock, hum
ming tlewliie in "a curious series of notes,
supposed 90 Doe the dulcet tones addressed to
ta femaIe bird
THE cour,hip of the humming bird is
particularly arluous operation, the lover
having 90 fight his way % nuptial life Sew
era species of these little living gems are
common mv doOryarl and are engaged in
acu.mull warfare with each other; often
the Engagement is carried on with such vigor
that the bird, are injured A friend near by
D IL
positive that az times the male when finding
that D.. is being worsted feigns DEATH and
drops 90 tle gruond, i'm fact, plays possum, TO
escape. and carries it TO such an extent that
she bias gone out and picked the bird up and
brought DO into the house. where it soon recOv-
erei
SOME CURIOUS ANTICS.
There +, one in South America known as
Flor-u-a mo.livor that performs some Curl
ou, antics during the courtship season. II
resemble, some gorgeous insect as il darts
through 'he air, It's head and neck being a
beautiful metallic blue with border of
white. other portions being a rich metallic
green The tail, which is pure white. can be
expanded SD as 10 form a semi circle, and
when in the air with the tail feathers out
stretched it looks as though it were resting
ona tmg For several moments the little
creature wiu remain literally suspended in
t1e air with this curious cross piece vibrat
ms-a singular mode of courtship.
IN the water birds we find many curious
cowShips specially in the albatross, that is
amotdeyoted lover and mate Even when
The female is ON the nest he will stand by,
and 60 through the most extravagant mo-
uoas and altering curious shrieks which
sound like laughter, in return for which the
female gently caresses him with her bill. The
Nest Of this bird resembles that of some fam
msoe. being about two feet in height and
Zen inches in diameter, the top falling over
tle edges, SO that when deserted by the birds
tley form convenient seats and are so used
Dy sailors who hunt the bird 70 secure the leg
bones for pipe stems.
Near the borders of southern California is
found bird called the sunate that has a
strange courtship. 1t is about the size of a